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Ross-on-Wye

Cantilupe Road

Cantilupe Road, Ross-on-Wye, runs diagonally from Gloucester Road to the junction with Small Brook Road, Station Street and Station Approach.

The view north on Cantilupe Road
Looking north east down Cantilupe Road
(Click for a larger image)

Since this photo was taken, Cantilupe Road and Henry Street have been converted to be one way (in February 2006). This is not the first time a plan to convert Cantilupe Road to a one way street has been proposed. Thirty-one years ago, in January 1975, a plan to convert the street was unanimously rejected by the Ross Town Council.

Site of Butchers Garage
The site of Butchers Garage
(Click for a larger image)

In 1906 this building was a garage used by Mr. Butcher, who had already established his own garage down in Brookend Street (and who also built his own airplane in 1910), and he joined forces with Mr. Casson, who was on the opposite side of Cantilupe Road, to form Butcher & Casson Ltd. They produced a wide range of hand-built motor vehicles, from cars to various vans to small lorries all built to order by the ten man team. They then exhibited their vehicles and cars in the road for all to see.


The part of the building that is currently "Grow Master Hydroponics" was "Cutters D.I.Y." shop and they had "Cutters Gym" upstairs, it then became a lamp shop run by, I believe, a Ms. Ann Taylor. More recently, in the late 1990's and early 2000's, after the lamp shop closed it was Ray Hill's Television Repair Shop.

Products sold by Cutters D.I.Y.
An example of products sold by Cutters D.I.Y.
(Click for a larger image)

Shops on Cantilupe Road
Some of the shops on Cantilupe Road
(Click for a larger image)

The small white shop on the right, currently S&R Taxis has had several uses. In the 1950's it was owned by Gwenny Pepper, who married Mr John Tugwell, and Gwenny Pepper ran it as a sweet shop called Peppers.

Since then it was the Cosey Cafe, which was, as the name suggests, a cafe, a bus shelter, as Cantilupe Road is the bus station in Ross, and now it is the base for S&R Taxis.

On the left of that was the original site of Bill Preece's Vegetable Shop. Prior to that it was Mr. Farmer's Antique Shop. I believe Mr. Farmer lived somewhere in Millpond Street.


The shop on the left of the shot, that is currently "Crow's Feet", was Mr. Dekins Grocery Store.

This was the original site of Bill Preece's shop and Mr. Dekins worked for him in the shop before, in 1970, Mr. Preece moved further down the road and Mr. Dekins had his own shop there until relatively recently. More details about Mr. Dekins can be found [ here].


This is the front of the Registry Office in Ross, previously, in 1887, it was a Baptist Chapel.

In the 1950's this used to be the Magistrates Court in Ross. The door you see in the middle of the building was the main entrance and at the rear used to be the entrance to the holding cells which were in the small extension on the back. This was where the prisoners were held until they were taken up into the dock to face the judge and returned after sentencing.

The Registry Office on Cantilupe Road
The Registry Office on Cantilupe Road
(Click for a larger image)

The north side of Cantilupe Road
The view of the northern side of Cantilupe Road
(Click for a larger image)

In the left of the shot is the site of the library in Ross. This used to be where the Board or Council School was in Ross. It was built in 1874, extended in 1889 and then closed as the Secondary School in 1953 when the John Kyrle High School opened. It then became the towns primary school until it was pulled down in 1969.


The shops on the left of the shot, behind the bus shelter, are a relatively new addition. This used to be a patch of waste ground belonging to Mr. Dekins and there were two big billboards on there advertising various items (I remember them being there in the 1980's). One was just beyond the house in the middle of the shot that is obscured by the tree. Behind that board was the "Red and White" bus company canteen. The other board was further down, by the steps seen in the photo below and right.

The south side of Cantilupe Road
Part of the southern side of Cantilupe Road
(Click for a larger image)

The view back along Cantilupe Road towards Gloucester Road (left)
and on towards the northern end of the road (right)
(Click for a larger image)

Front of what was the Board School
The front of what was the Board School
(Click for a larger image)

The two stone pillars are about all that remains of the Board School as these pillars used to support the fence that fronted the school.


"Ursells of Ross", the memorial masons, are one of the oldest companies in Ross and their works on Cantilupe Road can be traced back to 1885. The name "Ursell" appears in Gazetteers from 1876 indicating that the family has been around for longer.

Ursells on Cantilupe Road
Ursells on Cantilupe Road
(Click for a larger image)

Just off Cantilupe Road
Housing just off Cantilupe Road
(Click for a larger image)

These are some of the old houses just off Cantilupe Road, that are behind Ursells.


Several examples of houses on Cantilupe Road
(Click for a larger image)

Cantilupe Cafe and Gentlemans Hairdressers
The Cantilupe Cafe and Gentlemans Hairdressers
(Click for a larger image)
Houses on Cantilupe Road
Houses on Cantilupe Road
(Click for a larger image)

Site of TC Longfords Garage
Site of TC Longfords Garage
(Click for a larger image)

TC Longfords Garage
TC Longfords Garage
[Photo: J.C.Coombes]
(Click for a larger image)

The houses above are built on the site of TC Longfords car repair garage (left) and car hire yard. This was altered in 1996 and Cantilupe Mews were eventaully built on the site.

There used to be a entrance with a parking area at the front then further back was, I think, a corrugated iron workshop.


This building was designed as a car showroom for TC Longfords. They also used to sell car spares and do repairs in the brick building to the left of the showroom.

Subsequently the building was used by Newent Windows and it is currently used by Saymor Furnishers.

Site of TC Longfords car showroom
Site of TC Longfords car showroom
(Click for a larger image)

A view down Cantilupe Road
Looking towards the end of Cantilupe Road
(Click for a larger image)

The view towards the end of Cantilupe Road with Abbotsfield Funeral Directors on the right hand side (as seen here) and on the left is the site of TC Longfords car sales and show room.


This building can be seen on the left in the old postcard view below.

Abbotsfield on Cantilupe Road
Abbotsfield Funeral directors on the end of Cantilupe Road
(Click for a larger image)

A postcard view of Cantilupe Road
An old shot of Cantilupe Road
(Click for a larger image)

This postcard view of Cantilupe Road, interestingly spelt "Cantelupe Road" on the card, was postmarked in 1943.

On the right is the shop where Arthur Weale ran the Wye Valley Cycle and Gun Works, which has since been replaced by the TC Longfords Car Showroom and Garage and then Newent Windows.

(Postcard titled "Ross, Cantelupe Road" - published by Friths no. 54485)


This is the Wallace Hall Memorial before it was moved, and remodelled, from the junction to its present location at the entrance to Smallbrook Gardens.

Wallace Hall memorial before it was moved
The Wallace Hall memorial before it was moved
[Photo: J.C.Coombes]
(Click for a larger image)

On the right of Cantilupe Road, the tower of the Council School can be seen and just behind that, the site of the Chapel. On the left of the road, the building that is now Cantilupe Cafe and the Gentlemans Hairdressers can be seen.


Cantilupe Road Ross-on-Wye
Looking south west up Cantilupe Road
(Click for a larger image)



next Brookend Street Chase Road previous


[Page updated: Feb 15 2011 13:31:58]






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